The following table summarizes the compensation paid by each Fund and by the Lazard Funds for the calendar year ended December 31, 2008.
As of the Record Date Cede & Co. held 100% of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock of each Fund. To the Funds’ knowledge, no person owned beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of each Fund as of the Record Date, except that 1607 Capital Partners, LLC, 4991 Lake Brook Drive, Suite 125, Glen Allen, VA 23060 filed on February 17, 2009 a beneficial ownership report on Schedule 13G with the SEC stating that as of December 31, 2008 it beneficially owned 840,645 shares of Common Stock of LGI. Based on such filing, this holding represented approximately 8.75% of LGI’s outstanding shares of Common Stock as of December 31, 2008. (Cede & Co. is the nominee name for The Depository Trust Company, a large clearing house that holds shares in its name for banks, brokers and institutions in order to expedite the sale and transfer of stock.) As of the Record Date, LAM did not beneficially own any shares of Common Stock of LOR or LGI.
To each Fund’s knowledge, all of its officers and Directors complied with all filing requirements under Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. To each Fund’s knowledge, there were no beneficial holders of more than 10% of its Common Stock subject to the filing requirements under the 1934 Act during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. In making this disclosure, each Fund has relied solely on representations of its current Directors and officers and on copies of reports that have been filed with the SEC.
A plurality of the votes cast at a meeting at which a Quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect Directors for each Fund.
Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The 1940 Act requires that each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm be selected by a majority of the Independent Directors of the Fund. One of the purposes of each Fund’s Audit Committee is to recommend to the Fund’s Board the selection, retention or termination of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. At a joint meeting held on February 26, 2009, each Fund’s Audit Committee recommended and each Fund’s Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors, approved the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) as each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009. Deloitte also served as the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm for each Fund’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. A representative of Deloitte will not be present at the Annual Meeting, but will be available by telephone and will have an opportunity to make a statement (if the representative so desires) and to respond to appropriate questions.
After reviewing each Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, each Fund’s Audit Committee recommended to the Fund’s Board that such statements be included in the Fund’s Annual Report to stockholders. A copy of the Audit Committees’joint report for the Funds is attached as Appendix A to this Combined Proxy Statement.
Audit Fees.The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by Deloitte for the audit of LOR’s and LGI’s annual financial statements, or services that are normally provided by Deloitte in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, in 2007 were $50,000 for each Fund, and in 2008 were $60,000 for each Fund.
Audit-Related Fees.There were no fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years by Deloitte to either LOR or LGI for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audits of either Funds’ financial statements, which are not reported above.
Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by Deloitte for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (“Tax Services”) in 2007 were $6,195 for LOR and $6,180 for LGI and in 2008 were $6,375 for each Fund. For each Fund, these Tax Services consisted of (i) review or preparation of U.S. federal, state, local and excise tax returns; and (ii) U.S. federal, state and local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments.
All Other Fees.There were no fees billed to the Funds in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by Deloitte, other than the services reported above.
Non-Audit Fees.The aggregate non-audit fees billed by Deloitte for services rendered to each Fund and rendered to LAM or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with LAM that provides ongoing services to the Funds (“Service Affiliates”) in 2007 and 2008 were $885,500 and $945,875, respectively.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures.Each Fund’s Audit Committee pre-approves Deloitte’s engagements for audit and non-audit services to the Fund and, as required, non-audit services to Service Affiliates on a case-by-case basis. Pre-approval considerations include whether the proposed services are compatible with maintaining
10
Deloitte’s independence. There were no services provided by Deloitte to either Fund or Service Affiliates that were approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X during the last two fiscal years of the Funds.
There were no fees billed by Deloitte to Service Affiliates for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2008 that required pre-approval by the Funds’Audit Committees. The Funds’Audit Committees have considered whether the provision of non-audit services rendered to Service Affiliates that did not require pre-approval by the Audit Committees is compatible with maintaining Deloitte’s independence.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Stockholder Meeting To Be Held on April 29, 2009
The following materials relating to this Combined Proxy Statement are available at http://www.lazardnet.com/lam/us/index.shtml:
| | |
| • | this Combined Proxy Statement; |
| | |
| • | the accompanying Notice of Joint Annual Meeting; |
| | |
| • | information on how to obtain directions to attend the meeting in person; |
| | |
| • | proxy cards and any other proxy materials; |
| | |
| • | each Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. |
Annual Report
Each Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 to any stockholder upon request. Requests for the Annual Report of a Fund should be made by writing to the Fund at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10112-6300 or by calling 800-823-6300.
Please note that only one annual report or information statement may be delivered to two or more stockholders of a Fund who share an address, unless the Fund has received instructions to the contrary. To request a separate copy of an annual report or this information statement, or for instructions as to how to request a separate copy of these documents or as to how to request a single copy if multiple copies of these documents are received, stockholders should contact their Fund(s) at the address and phone number set forth above.
Other Matters to Come Before the Meeting
The Directors do not intend to present any other business at the Annual Meeting nor are they aware that any stockholder intends to do so. If, however, any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote thereon in accordance with their judgment.
Stockholders who wish to communicate with Directors should send communications to the relevant Fund, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10112-6300, to the attention of the Secretary. The Secretary is responsible for determining, in consultation with other officers of the Fund and Fund counsel, which stockholder communications will be directed to the Director or Directors indicated in the communication.
11
Additional Voting Information; Expenses of Proxy Solicitation
The Funds will bear the cost of soliciting proxies on behalf of the Funds’ Boards of Directors. Proxies may be solicited by mail, in person or by telephone, and the Funds may reimburse persons holding Fund shares in their name or those of their nominees for their expenses in sending soliciting materials to their principals. The total expenses of the Annual Meeting, including the solicitation of proxies and the expenses incurred in connection with the preparation of the Combined Proxy Statement, are approximately $60,000.
Authorizations to execute proxies may be obtained by telephonic transmitted instructions in accordance with procedures designed to authenticate the stockholder’s identity. In all cases where a telephonic proxy is solicited, the stockholder will be asked to provide his or her full name, address, social security number or taxpayer identification number and the number of shares owned and to confirm that the stockholder has received the Combined Proxy Statement and proxy card(s) in the mail. Within 72 hours of receiving a stockholder’s telephonic transmitted voting instructions, a confirmation will be sent to the stockholder to ensure that the vote has been taken in accordance with the stockholder’s instructions and to provide a telephone number to call immediately if the stockholder’s instructions are not correctly reflected in the confirmation.
Voting Results
Each Fund will advise its stockholders of the voting results of the matters voted upon at the Annual Meeting in its next Semi-Annual Report to Stockholders.
Stockholder Proposals
Any proposals of stockholders that are intended to be presented at the Funds’ 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act must be received at the Funds’ principal executive offices no later than December 1, 2009 and must comply with all other legal requirements in order to be included in the Funds’ Combined Proxy Statement and forms of proxy for that meeting. For other stockholder proposals to be presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the relevant Fund at the Fund’s principal office no earlier than January 29, 2010 and no later than February 28, 2010. If the 2010 Annual Meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from April 29, 2010 then timely notice must be delivered not earlier than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.
NOTICE TO BANKS, BROKER/DEALERS AND VOTING TRUSTEES
AND THEIR NOMINEES
Please advise the Funds whether other persons are the beneficial owners of Fund shares for which proxies are being solicited from you, and, if so, the number of copies of the Combined Proxy Statement and other soliciting material you wish to receive in order to supply copies to the beneficial owners of Fund shares.
12
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY.
STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO VOTE BY MAIL.
| |
| By Order of the Boards of Directors |
| |
| Nathan A. Paul |
| Secretary |
New York, New York
March 31, 2009
13
APPENDIX A
JOINT REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEES
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of each Fund oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the Fund’s financial statements. Each Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter. As set forth in the Charter, management of each Fund is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Fund’s financial statements, the Fund’s accounting and financial and reporting principles and internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.
In the performance of its oversight function, each Committee has considered and discussed the December 31, 2008 audited financial statements of the relevant Fund with management and with Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”), the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee has also discussed with Deloitte the matters required to be discussed by the PCAOB\Ethics and Independence Rule 3526,Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, as currently in effect. The Committee reviewed with Deloitte, who is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgment as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of each Fund’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under generally accepted auditing standards. Finally, each Committee has reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1,Independence Discussions With Audit Committees, as currently in effect and has discussed with Deloitte the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Each Committee discussed with Deloitte the overall scope and plans for the audit. The Committees met with Deloitte, with and without management present, to discuss the results of its examinations, its evaluations of each Fund’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Fund’s financial reporting.
Based upon the reports and discussions described in this report, and subject to the limitations on the role and responsibilities of the Committee referred to below and in the Charter, each Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements be included in each Fund’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Stockholders are reminded, however, that the Members of each Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting. Members of the Committees rely without independent verification on the information provided to them and on the representations made by management and Deloitte. Accordingly, each Committee’s oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles or appropriate internal control and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Committees’ considerations and discussions referred to above
14
do not assure that the audit of each Fund’s financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or that Deloitte is, in fact, “independent.”
| |
| Lester Z. Lieberman, Audit Committee Chairman |
| Kenneth S. Davidson, Audit Committee Member |
| Nancy A. Eckl, Audit Committee Member |
| Leon M. Pollack, Audit Committee Member |
| Richard Reiss, Jr., Audit Committee Member |
| Robert M. Solmson, Audit Committee Member |
February 26, 2009
15
PROXY TABULATOR
P.O. BOX 9112
FARMINGDALE, NY 11735
EVERY STOCKHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT! VOTE THIS VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD TODAY! |
VOTE BY INTERNET Read the Proxy Statement and have this card at hand Log on towww.proxyweb.com Follow the on-screen instructions Do not return this paper ballot
| | VOTE BY PHONE | | VOTE BY MAIL Read the Proxy Statement and have this card at hand Check the appropriate box on reverse Sign and date the voting instruction card Return promptly in the enclosed envelope.
|
| LAZARD WORLD DIVIDEND & INCOME FUND, INC. ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS -APRIL 29, 2009 COMMON STOCK PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
| |
PROXY
The undersigned holder of shares of Common Stock of Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), hereby appoints Nathan A. Paul and Brian D. Simon, and each of them, with full power of substitution and revocation, as proxies to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be held at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 58th Floor, Conference Room 58B, New York, New York 10112, on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at 3:00 p.m., and at any and all adjournments thereof, and thereat to vote all shares of Common Stock of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, with all powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, in accordance with the instructions on this proxy.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting To Be Held on April 29, 2009
The following materials relating to this Annual Meeting are available at http://www.lazardnet.com/lam/us/index.shtml:
- the Combined Proxy Statement;
- the Notice of Joint Annual Meeting;
- information on how to obtain directions to attend the meeting in person;
- this proxy card and any other proxy materials;
- the Fund's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE FUND'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WILL BE VOTED FOR THE PROPOSALS UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED. BY SIGNING THIS PROXY CARD, RECEIPT OF THE ACCOMPANYING NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT IS ACKNOWLEDGED.
PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN, AND RETURN
PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
Dated: ______________________
|
Signature(s) | (Sign in the Box) |
Note: Please sign exactly as name or names appear on this proxy. If stock is held jointly, each holder should sign. If signing as attorney, trustee, executor, administrator, custodian, guardian or corporate officer, please give full title.
RV-WD2-F
Please fill in box(es) as shown using black or blue ink or number 2 pencil. | | X |
PLEASE DO NOT USE FINE POINT PENS. | | |
| | |
When properly signed, the voting interest represented by this card will be voted as instructed below. If no instruction is given for the proposal, voting will be “FOR” the proposal.
| | | | | | WITHHOLD | | |
| | | | FOR | | AUTHORITY | | |
1a. | | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Ashish Bhutani as a Class III Director: | | 0 | | 0 | | 1(a). |
|
1b. | | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Richard Reiss, Jr. as a Class III Director: | | 0 | | 0 | | 1(b). |
|
|
2. | | In their discretion, on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment | | 0 | | 0 | | 2. |
| | thereof. | | | | | | |
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
RV-WD2-B
PROXY TABULATOR
P.O. BOX 9112
FARMINGDALE, NY 11735
EVERY STOCKHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT! VOTE THIS VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD TODAY! |
VOTE BY INTERNET Read the Proxy Statement and have this card at hand Log on towww.proxyweb.com Follow the on-screen instructions Do not return this paper ballot
| | VOTE BY PHONE | | VOTE BY MAIL Read the Proxy Statement and have this card at hand Check the appropriate box on reverse Sign and date the voting instruction card Return promptly in the enclosed envelope.
|
| LAZARD GLOBAL TOTAL RETURN AND INCOME FUND, INC. ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS - APRIL 29, 2009 COMMON STOCK PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |
PROXY
The undersigned holder of shares of Common Stock of Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), hereby appoints Nathan A. Paul and Brian D. Simon, and each of them, with full power of substitution and revocation, as proxies to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be held at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 58th Floor, Conference Room 58B, New York, New York 10112, on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at 3:00 p.m., and at any and all adjournments thereof, and thereat to vote all shares of Common Stock of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, with all powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, in accordance with the instructions on this proxy.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting To Be Held on April 29, 2009
The following materials relating to this Annual Meeting are available at http://www.lazardnet.com/lam/us/index.shtml:
- the Combined Proxy Statement;
- the Notice of Joint Annual Meeting;
- information on how to obtain directions to attend the meeting in person;
- this proxy card and any other proxy materials;
- the Fund's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE FUND'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WILL BE VOTED FOR THE PROPOSALS UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED. BY SIGNING THIS PROXY CARD, RECEIPT OF THE ACCOMPANYING NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT IS ACKNOWLEDGED.
PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN, AND RETURN
PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
Dated: ______________________
|
Signature(s) | (Sign in the Box) |
Note: Please sign exactly as name or names appear on this proxy. If stock is held jointly, each holder should sign. If signing as attorney, trustee, executor, administrator, custodian, guardian or corporate officer, please give full title.
RV-TRI-F
Please fill in box(es) as shown using black or blue ink or number 2 pencil. | | X |
PLEASE DO NOT USE FINE POINT PENS. | | |
| | |
When properly signed, the voting interest represented by this card will be voted as instructed below. If no instruction is given for the proposal, voting will be “FOR” the proposal.
| | | | | | WITHHOLD | | |
| | | | FOR | | AUTHORITY | | |
|
1a. | | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Charles Carroll as a Class I Director: | | 0 | | 0 | | 1(a). |
|
1b. | | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Leon M. Pollack as a Class I Director: | | 0 | | 0 | | 1(b). |
| | | | | | | | |
1b. | | With respect to the proposal to elect Mr. Robert M. Solmson as a Class I Director: | | 0 | | 0 | | 1(c). |
| | | | | | | | |
2. | | In their discretion, on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment | | 0 | | 0 | | 2. |
| | thereof. | | | | | | |
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
V-TRI-B